Traumatic Brain Injuries From Car Crashes: What You Need to Know

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Car and truck crashes are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the United States. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people sustain brain injuries in motor vehicle collisions, ranging from mild concussions to severe, life-altering trauma. 

Understanding how car and truck crashes cause traumatic brain injuries, recognizing the warning signs, and knowing what steps to take after a crash can make a critical difference in recovery and legal outcomes. 

This comprehensive guide from the award-winning personal injury attorneys at Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. explains everything you need to know about TBIs resulting from automobile crashes in Alabama.

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What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury occurs when an external force causes damage to the brain. Unlike injuries that are immediately visible, such as broken bones or lacerations, TBIs often involve internal damage that may not be apparent right away.

The brain is a delicate organ suspended in cerebrospinal fluid within the skull. When a sudden impact or violent movement occurs during a car or truck crash, the brain can strike the inside of the skull, twist, or experience rapid acceleration and deceleration forces that damage brain tissue.

Traumatic brain injuries are generally classified into three categories based on severity:

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Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Concussion)

A mild TBI, commonly called a concussion, is the most frequent type of brain injury from car accidents. While classified as mild, these injuries should never be dismissed as insignificant.

Concussions can cause temporary loss of consciousness, confusion, headaches, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, and difficulty concentrating. Most people recover from concussions within days to weeks, but some experience prolonged symptoms known as post-concussion syndrome that can persist for months or longer.

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Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

Moderate TBIs involve more extensive damage and typically result in loss of consciousness lasting from several minutes to hours. Victims may experience persistent headaches, repeated vomiting, seizures, dilated pupils, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in extremities, and significant confusion or agitation.

Recovery from moderate TBIs often requires intensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, and long-term cognitive or physical impairments are common.

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Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Severe TBIs are catastrophic injuries that involve prolonged unconsciousness or coma, extensive brain damage visible on imaging scans, and profound neurological deficits.

These injuries frequently result in permanent disability, including cognitive impairment, motor function loss, personality changes, and the inability to perform daily activities independently. Severe TBIs require emergency medical intervention, often including surgery, and lifelong care and support.

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How Car and Truck Accidents Cause Traumatic Brain Injuries

Car and truck crashes subject occupants to extreme forces that the human body, and particularly the brain, is not designed to withstand. Understanding the mechanisms of injury helps explain why TBIs are so common in motor vehicle collisions.

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Impact Injuries

Impact injuries occur when the head strikes an object during the crash. This might be the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, side window, headrest, or roof of the vehicle. The force of the impact can cause skull fractures, brain contusions (bruising), and hemorrhaging (bleeding). Even when the skull remains intact, the force can cause the brain to slam against the interior of the skull, resulting in tissue damage and swelling.

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Acceleration-Deceleration Injuries

These injuries occur due to rapid changes in speed, such as when a vehicle suddenly stops during a collision or is struck from behind. The brain, which floats within the skull, continues moving at the original speed even after the skull has stopped or changed direction.

This causes the brain to collide with the interior of the skull first in the direction of impact (coup injury) and then rebound in the opposite direction (contrecoup injury). This double-impact mechanism frequently results in injuries on both sides of the brain.

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Rotational Injuries

Rotational forces occur when the head twists or rotates violently during a crash, such as in rollover accidents or side-impact collisions. This twisting motion can cause the brain to rotate within the skull, stretching and tearing nerve fibers and blood vessels.

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI), one of the most serious types of TBI, results from these rotational forces and involves widespread damage to the brain’s white matter.

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Penetrating Injuries

Though less common, penetrating brain injuries can occur when objects such as shattered glass, metal fragments, or debris pierce the skull and enter the brain tissue. These injuries are typically severe and require immediate surgical intervention.

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Common Types of Car and Truck Accidents That Cause TBIs

• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• Side-impact crashes (T-bone accidents)
• Rollover accidents
• Multi-vehicle pile-ups
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Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

One of the most dangerous aspects of traumatic brain injuries is that symptoms may not appear immediately following a motor vehicle crash.

Adrenaline and shock can mask signs of injury, and some TBIs develop gradually as swelling or bleeding occurs inside the skull. Being aware of both immediate and delayed symptoms is critical.

Immediate Symptoms

• Loss of consciousness, even if brief
• Confusion or disorientation
• Severe headache that worsens over time
• Repeated nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or coordination problems
• Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
• Ringing in the ears
• Slurred speech
• Memory problems
• Drowsiness or difficulty staying awake

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Delayed Symptoms

• Persistent or worsening headaches
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering information
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood changes
• Sensitivity to noise or light
• Fatigue
• Changes in personality or behavior
• Problems with executive function

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Emergency Warning Signs

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Loss of consciousness lasting more than a few seconds
• Severe or worsening headache
• Repeated vomiting
• Seizures
• Weakness or numbness
• Unequal pupil size
• Clear fluid draining from the nose or ears
• Inability to wake
• Extreme confusion or agitation

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Why Immediate Medical Evaluation Is Critical

1. Early detection prevents life-threatening complications.
   
2. Documentation strengthens legal claims.
   
3. Treatment improves long-term outcomes.
   
4. Establishes a baseline for monitoring.
   
   
   

Long-Term Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Cognitive Impairments

Memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and executive dysfunction.

Physical Disabilities

Chronic headaches, seizures, motor impairment, and balance problems.

Emotional and Behavioral Changes

Depression, anxiety, irritability, and personality changes.

Increased Risk of Future Problems

Higher risk of CTE, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological disorders.

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Steps to Take After a Car or Truck Crash if You Suspect a TBI

1. Seek medical attention immediately.
   
2. Follow all medical recommendations.
   
3. Document your symptoms daily.
   
4. Avoid physical and cognitive strain.
   
5. Notify your insurance company.
   
6. Preserve evidence.
   
7. Consult with a personal injury attorney.
   
   

Legal Rights and Compensation for TBI Victims in Alabama

If another driver’s negligence caused your crash and resulting traumatic brain injury, you have the right to pursue compensation under Alabama law.

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Types of Compensation Available

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages (in cases involving extreme negligence or recklessness)

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Why TBI Cases Require Experienced Legal Representation

TBI cases are among the most complex personal injury claims. Insurance companies frequently challenge these cases because symptoms may not be visible. Successful TBI cases often require expert testimony, neuropsychological testing, life care planning, and economic analysis.

Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. has recovered over $3 billion for clients and has decades of trial experience handling serious injury cases throughout Alabama. We work with leading experts and aggressively pursue maximum compensation. All cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you have a TBI without hitting your head?
Yes. Acceleration and deceleration forces alone can cause brain injury.

2. How long after an accident can symptoms appear?
Hours, days, or weeks later.

3. What is the difference between a concussion and a TBI?
A concussion is a mild TBI.

4. Can a minor accident cause a brain injury?
Yes. Even low-speed collisions can generate sufficient force.

5. How long does recovery take?
It depends on severity and individual factors.

6. What if symptoms worsen after hospital release?
Seek emergency medical care immediately.

7. Will insurance cover treatment?
Coverage depends on fault and policy terms.

8. How much is a TBI case worth in Alabama?
Value depends on severity, long-term impact, and damages.

9. How long do I have to file a claim in Alabama?
Two years under Alabama Code § 6-2-38.

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Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in an Alabama Car or Truck Crash?

If you or a loved one has sustained a traumatic brain injury in Alabama, the experienced attorneys at Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. are ready to fight for you.

Call (205) 322-8880 today for a free, confidential consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.

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